French Montana Recalls AAU Hoop Days With ESPN

Despite his laid back demeanor, could you imagine that French Montana used to fanute the hoops back in the day? Back in his younger days, Frenchie used to run with famed New York City hoops squad “The Gauchos” from The Bronx. The Gauchos produced such NBA talent as Stephon Marbury, Kenny Anderson, Mark Jackson and Kemba Walker.
” I used to play for Gauchos and Riverside [in New York City]. I know Kemba Walker from my block, from around my neighborhood. I definitely used to play in all the tournaments, all the neighborhood tournaments, Kingdome to Rucker Park,” French revealed to ESPN.

“We played against Luol Deng [of the Chicago Bulls], we played against Jarrett Jack [of the Golden State Warriors]. I was going against them, then three or four years later they’re in the NBA. I said, ‘Wow.’ It was around the same time Sebastian Telfair was doing his thing. ”

According to French, his immigration issues from Morocco spurned any plans of him taking his hoops to the next level. “When my college didn’t go through, I kind of just like sat back and started playing streetball after that in big tournaments. And then in the midst of that, I started rapping. That kind of took off faster than anything.”MORE ON HIP-HOP WIRED!